Foreign trade of South Africa

South African exports and imports between 1992-2011. Top graph illustrates exports (dark blue) and imports (light blue). The bottom graph illustrates South Africa's balance of trade.

Since the end of apartheid foreign trade in South Africa has increased, following the lifting of several sanctions and boycotts which were imposed as a means of ending apartheid.

South Africa is the second largest producer of gold and is the world's largest producer of chrome, manganese, platinum, vanadium and vermiculite, the second largest producer of ilmenite, palladium, rutile and zirconium.[1] It is also the world's third largest coal exporter.[2] Although, mining only accounts for 3% of the GDP, down from around 14% in the 1980s.[3] South Africa also has a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products.

Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain.[4] Chief exports include corn, diamonds, fruits, gold, metals and minerals, sugar, and wool. Machinery and transportation equipment make up more than one-third of the value of the country’s imports. Other imports include chemicals, manufactured goods, and petroleum.

History

During apartheid, South Africa's foreign trade and investment were affected by sanctions and boycotts by other countries ideologically opposed to apartheid. In 1970, the United Nations Security Council, adopted resolution 282 imposing a voluntary arms embargo upon South Africa, and which was extended by subsequent resolutions 418 and 591, declaring the embargo mandatory. In 1978, South Africa was prohibited loans from the Export-Import Bank of the United States which was later followed by a prohibition on IMF loans in 1983. An oil embargo was imposed by OPEC in 1983 which was strengthened by Iran in 1979.

This bubble map shows the global distribution of South African exports in 2006 as a percentage of the top market (Japan - $6,234,170,000).

Imports and exports

South Africa's main export trading partners are the European Union, the United States, Japan. China's share in exports is increasing, and has risen from 1.7% in 1994 to nearly 11% in 2007.

Top five manufactured exports in 2011[5]
Product
Value
(millions of Rands) 		Percentage of total
Basic iron and steel 55,968 15.51%
Motor vehicles 46,671 12.93%
Precious and non-ferrous metals 43,751 12.12%
Basic chemicals
(except nitrogen compounds) 		22,111 6.13%
Refined petroleum products 12,525 3.47%
All other exports 360,938 49.85%
Top five export markets in 2011[5]
Country
Value
(millions of Rands)
Value in US$
(millions of Dollars)
United States United States
49,374
7,350[6]
Germany Germany
34,129
5,080
Japan Japan
23,356
3,477
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
16,741
2,492
China China
16,548
2,463
Top five manufactured imports in 2011[5]
Product
Value
(millions of Rands) 		Percentage of total
Motor vehicle parts 55,864 9.46%
Motor vehicles 51,513 8.73%
Refined petroleum products 43,657 7.4%
Televisions and radios 23,252 3.94%
Computers and office equipment 18,927 3.21%
All other exports 360,938 67.27%
Top five import source countries in 2011[5]
Country
Value
(millions of Rands)
Value in US$
(millions of Dollars)
China China
100,186
14,914[6]
Germany Germany
76,165
11,338
United States United States
53,941
8,030
Japan Japan
34,358
5,115
India India
28,486
4,240

Attention: SARS presents completely different figures! http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=211

African trade

Almost 90% of South Africa's exports to rest of Africa go to the SADC economies. In 2011, South Africa’s trade with the rest of Africa exceeded R220 billion (approx. USD30bn) which amounted to 17% of SA’s total trade with the world. This amounted to a ZAR40bn trade surplus for South Africa compared to a ZAR68bn deficit with Asia. South African exports to the rest of Africa are predominantly of value-added goods. The country's investment stock in Africa has increased from R14.7 billion in 2001 to R121 billion in 2010, amounting to 21% of its total outward Foreign Direct Investment.[7]

Trade agreements

The following includes a list of existing trade agreements signed by South Africa.

Currently UAE is also one of the most important trade partners with African buyers/importers.

Proposed free trade agreements

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mineral Commodity summaries
  2. ↑ South Africa's coal future looks bright
  3. ↑ South Africa, Jobless growth – The Economist
  4. ↑ "South Africa". The World Factbook. CIA.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "South African EXPORT by Codes". Department of Trade and Industry. 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Rand/US$ exchange value in July 2011". Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Simon Freemantle & Jeremy Stevens (12 June 2012). "EM10 and Africa: South Africa in Africa - a steady, yet narrow, ascent". Standard Bank. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "SA hosts 26 heads of state for ‘Cape to Cairo’ free trade area". Independent Online. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Free trade zone envisioned from Egypt to South Africa, Angola across to Madagascar". Washington Post. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
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